Slip mounting



Sept. 27, 1938. c. s. CRICKMER 2,131,275

. SLIP MOUNTING Filed Sept. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHAewJJKhc/m/Ee Sept 1938. c, s. CRICKMER 2,131,275

SLIP MOUNTING Filed Sept. 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 @mmrJICrl/me Patented Sept. 27, 1938 sur MOUNTING Charles S. Crickmer, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Merla Tool Company, Dallas, Tex., a firm Application September 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,375

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in slip mountings.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved slip mounting particularly adapted for use with a well packer or other similar tool.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved slip mounting, including a plurality of flexible members which are so arranged that each member forms a link for carrying one of the slips, as well as a friction spring adapted to engage the well casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved slip mounting which is so constructed that a link for carrying said slip and a friction spring for engaging the well casing below the slip, is formed of a single metallic member, the construction of the member being such that the friction spring may be damaged or broken without aifecting the link connection for the slip.

A further object 01' the-invention is to provide an improved member constructed of a spring metal or other flexible material for supporting a slip, which member is pivotally secured at its upper portion while its lower portion is free. from positive connection, the upper end of said member being held in place by the pivotal connection, while its lower end is retained by the inherent tension or spring thereof, whereby a more simple and greatly improved linkage arrangement is had.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved slip mounting including, a sleeve slidable with relation to the gripping slips, together with a plurality of spring members for connecting the sleeve and slips and also for providing friction springs for engaging the well casing, one of said members being provided for each slip and each member being constructed so that its upper portion forms a reinforced and rigid support the slip, but is so constructed that it tends at all times to urge the slip into its retracted position.

Another object of the invention isto provide an improved slip mounting which is so constructed that the links for carrying the slips are pivotally connected to said slips and a supporting sleeve, the links being extended beyond the pivotal connection to the supporting sleeve to form a flexible member which is maintained under tension, thereby tending at all times to urge the slips into their retracted position, which arrangement reduces the possibility of damage or breakage of the connecting links; and having friction spring members provided on the supporting sleeve, and independent of the slip carrying links, for engaging the well casing.

A construction designed to carry out the in-' vention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the upper portion of a slip mounting constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a continuation of Figure 1 showing the lower portion of the slip mounting,

Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 3+3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4' is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a-modified form of the invention, and Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5..

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates an elongate tubular mandrel which has a recovery ring I l secured thereon, the ringbeing preferably made integral therewith. A slip head or cone I2 surrounds the mandrel, being slidable thereon, I

and has its lower end resting on the ring ll whereby the cone is supported by said ring." A suitable packing member I2 is carried'by "the upper end of the cone l2, said packing member being provided with a flanged cap l2a for holding ,45 the packing member in position around the, man} drel I0. A coupling collar III is carried by the" upper end of the mandrel III and has an annular member I2b secured to its lower end which member is adapted to engage the flanged cap l2aat50 the upper end of the packing member. An elongate sleeve 13 is slidably mounted upon the mandrel l0 below the cone l2 and the ring 'II and is provided'with diametrically oppo-' site J-slots ll. The mandrel has a pair of r'a- 5kdially extended pins |5 which normally engage in the horizontal portions or legs of the J-slots M, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The pins and slots serve to connect the mandrel and sleeve together,

the ring I I. This upper end of the sleeve is enlarged to form a head |6 which is provided with a plurality of vertical slots l'l, while the lower end of said sleeve is formed with an enlarged collar I9 having a plurality of slots i8 therein.

A plurality of arcuate slips 20 are slidable on the exterior surface. of the cone l2 and when the slips are at the lower end of the cone, as shown in Figure 1, said slips are retracted or disengaged from the wall of the well casing A. It will be obvious that when the cone is moved downwardly with relation to the slips, said slips will be moved radially duev to the incline of said =cone. The radial expansion of the slips 20 causes the teeth on their outer faces to engage or grip the inner wall of the casing.

For supporting the slips in position on the cone, and for connectirg the slips with the sleeve I3, a plurality of flat spring members 2| are provided, one for each slip. The upper portion of each spring member 2| extends within the slot I! of the sleeve head I8, and is engaged around a transverse pin 22, which is secured in said head and which extends across the slot. One end of each spring member is located at a point immediately below the'pin 22 and extends upwardly forming a loop 22' around said pin from which it further extends upwardly into a recess 23 provided in the rear face of each slip. The spring member is then bent upon itself to form an eye 24', through which a transverse pin 24 extends. The pin 24 is secured in the slip and extends across the recess 23, and thus, it will be seen that the slip is pivotally connected with the member.

From the pin 24, the spring member extends downwardly into the slot with its outer flat surface engaging the inner flat surface of the upwardly extended portion, whereby the two engaging surfaces may be welded, or otherwise secured together, thereby forming a link B between the sleeve l3 and the slip 20, said link being pivotally connected to both thesleeve and the slip. The spring member 2| is constructed of a metal having a certain amount of inherent resiliency, and by constructing each link of a double thickness of said metal the link is made substantially rigid, whereby it has suflicient strength to carry the weight of the slip.

The lower end of each slot I! of the sleeve i3 is bevelled or inclined as at H and the spring member 2| extends downwardly from the pin 22 and bears against this inclined surface. From the surface H, the member is curved outwardly in a long arc, the central portion of which engages the wall of the well casing A, as shown in Figure 2.

The lowermost end of the spring member is con- -may wear out or break without interfering with or producing a counter-effect upon the slip mounting. It is further noted that pivoting the spring member at its center gives a superior linkage arrangement to the old method of using link ears and bolts to connect the slip with the sleeve,

since any strain to which the linkage is subjected In operating the device, the mandrel I is low- I ered into the well casing A to any desired depth with the slips 20 held in their retracted position by thetension in the springs 2| acting through the links B which are secured to the sleeve I3, which sleeve is connected to the mandrel by the pins l and slots l4.

When it is desired to set the slips, the mandrel is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and the radial pins l5 slid laterally within the horizontal legs of the J-slots I4, while the sleeve I3 is held in a stationary position by the friction springs C engaging the casing wall A under tension. At this time, the slips being connected to the sleeve by the links B, are also held stationary. This rotation permits the mandrel to descend through the sleeve i3 as the pins l5 slide within the vertical position of the J-slots l4.

As the mandrel moves downwardly, the member |2b engages the cap |2a on the packing member and acting through said packer, moves the cone |2 downwardly within the slips while said slips are held stationary, thereby expanding the slips radially into gripping engagement with the casing wall. By the time the mandrel has moved downwardly a suihcient distance to fully expand the slips, there will be a clearance between the ring ii and the cone l2, whereby the weight of the mandrel is exerted through the packer upon the cones and slips, and said slips grip the wall of the casing to support the cone, packer and mandrel. Of course, continued movement of the mandrel will set the packer in the usual manner.

When it is desired to-remove the device from the well to reset the slips, the mandrel is raised and turned in a clockwise direction to re-seat the pins iii in the lateral leg of the J-slots. The pressure on the packer is thereby released and said packer, due to its resilient nature, will return to its retracted position. The ring II on the mandrel will ascend therewith and carry the cone l2 upwardly, thereby disengaging the slips 20 from the casing wall by permitting the spring members 2| to move the slips inwardly to their retracted position. Thus, the sleeve I3 is again connected to the mandrel and will be lifted therewith.

A modified form of the slip mounting is shown in Figures 5 and 6, in which the slips 20 are mounted in the same manner as has been hereinbefore described, having the resilient members 2| forming connecting links between the pins 24 in the slips and the transverse pins 22 in the upper end of the sleeve l3, whereby substantially rigid connecting links B are formed. The spring members extend downwardly from the pins 22 and bear against the inclined surface of tr. 3 slots IT as has been described, but, instead of being extended further downward to form the friction provided in the sleeve head I6. The springs C" are that the links B and the friction springs C may be made and mounted separately, whereby a heavier material may be used for the springs C than is used and necessary in the linkage B, and a resultant longer wear of the friction springs obtained than if the same material were used throughout. It is noted that the action of the links B is the same in this form as in that first described, the difference being in making and mounting the friction springs separate from said links.

It is understood that, while a pmker element has been described, in conjunction with the slip mounting, the invention rests in the slip mounting itself and any other desiredelement or tool may be used therewith.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is:

1. A slip mounting including, a support having gripping slips slidably mounted thereon, a movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips and member, each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the upper end of the movable member and its lower end engaging the side of said member, and friction springs on the member below the links.

2. A slip mounting including, a support having gripping slips slidably mounted thereon, a'

movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips and member, each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the,

upper end of the movable member and its lower end engagingthe side of said member, friction springs on the member below the links, means for connecting the movable member to the sup: port whereby the slips are maintained in a fixed position with relation to the support, means for disconnecting said movable member whereby the support may move with relation to the slips, and means carried by the support for radially expanding the slips upon such movement ofthe support.

3. A slip mounting including, a support having gripping slips slidably mounted thereon, a movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips and member.

each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the upper end of the movable member and its lower end engaging'the side of said member, friction springs on the member below the links, means for con- 'springs on the movable -member acting to hold the movable member stationary when said member is disconnected from said support, whereby the support may move with relation to the slips and means carried by the support for radially expanding the slips upon such movement of the support.

4. A slip mounting including, a support having gripping slips slidably mounted thereon, a movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips andmember, each' link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the are urged inwardly toward their retracted posi tion at all times due to the pivotal arrangement, friction springs on the member below the links formed by' extending the slip supporting links downwardly and outwardly in a long arc, said links and springs being formed in a single piece, means for connecting the movable member to the support whereby the slips are maintained in a fixed position with relation tothe support, means for disconnecting said movable member, the friction-springs on the movable member acting to hold the movable member stationary when said member is disconnected from saidsupport, whereby the support may move with relation to ment 'of the support. Y

5. A slip mounting including, a, support having gripping slips slidably mounted thereon, a

movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips and member, each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central *portion pivoted to the movable member and its lower end engaging the side of said member, and friction springs on the member separate from and individually mounted below the links. I p

6. A slip mounting including, a support having gripping slips'slidably mounted thereon, a movable member mounted on the support below the slips, links connecting the slips and member, each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the mov- 'side of said member, the linkage being constructed of a resilient material whereby the slips able member and its lower end engaging the side able member mounted on the support below the slips, links for connecting the slips and the mov able member, each link having its upper end pivoted to one of the slips, its central portion pivoted to the upper end of the movable member and its lower end engaging the side of the memher, said link being formed of a continuous piece of resilient material bent upon itself'to provide a substantially rigid and friction spring on the member below the links.

8. A. slip mounting including, a support, gripping slips slidable on the outer surface of the support, and a supporting member for each slip haviiiga pivotal connection with the slip, said connection being arranged to permit said slip to swing on said member in a directionradially of the support, each supporting member having its lower portion bowed outwardly-to form an elongate friction spring.

9. A slip mounting including, ping slips slidable on the outer surface of the support, a supporting member for each slip havpp ping a pivotal connection with the slip, said connection being arranged to permit said slip'to swing on said member in a direction radially of the support, each supporting member having its lower end bowed outwardly to form an elongate friction spring, and means slidable on the support and having each supporting member secured thereto, whereby said means and slips are fastened together by the members- 10. A slip mounting including, a support, gripping slips slidable on the outer surface of the support, a supporting member for each slip hav-Z ing a pivotal connection with the slip, said connection being arranged to permit said slip to swing on saidmember in a direction radially of the support, each supporting member having its lower end bowed outwardly to form an elongate friction spring, means slidable on the support and having each supporting member secured thereto, whereby said means and slips are fastened together by the members, means for connecting the slidable means to the support whereby the slips are maintained in a fixed position with relation to the support, mea s for disconnecting.

said slidable means, whereby the support may 'move with relation to the slips, and means carried by the support for radially expanding the slips upon such movement of the support.

11. A slip mounting including, a support, gripping slips slidable on the outer surface of the support, a supporting member for each slip having a pivotal connection with the slip, said connection being arranged to permit said slip to swing on said member in a direction radially of the support, each supporting member having its lower end bowed outwardly to form an elongate friction spring, means slidable on the support and-having each supporting member secured thereto, whereby said means and slips are fastened together by the members, means for on necting the slidable means to the support whereby the slips are maintained in a fixed position with relation to the support, means for disconnecting said slidable means, the friction springs formed by the members and secured to the slidable means acting to hold the sleeve stationary when said sleeve is disconnected from said support, whereby the support may move with relation to the slips, and means carried by the support for radially expanding the slips upon such movement of the support.

CHARLES S. CRICKMER. 

